Display holder

ABSTRACT

A display holder for holding a display in relation to a printed circuit board, where the display holder has means for snapping the display onto the printed circuit board, and means for transferring a tension from a snap-connection to a connector part of the display. To accomplish the transferring of a tension has the display holder has a beam having an extracted section in its vertical direction that transfers the tension from the snap-connection to the connector part of the display and the printed circuit board. The snapping means comprise that the beam has supporting points and snapping flanges, where the flanges are snapped over the display and the printed circuit board to establish the connection. The display holder compresses an elastomer connector in the connector part, when it is applied to hold the display in relation to the printed circuit board. The elastomer connector enables a flexible and reliable connection, and the display holder ensures that it is kept in place, and ensures other physical stresses on the connection are avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a display holder for holding a displayand a printed circuit board in relation to each other so that there canbe good contact between the display and the printed circuit board.

[0002] Holding a display onto a printed circuit board and getting a goodcontact between the display and the printed circuit board has oftencaused problems, due to not very good holding means. The frame, useduntil now for holding the display onto the printed circuit board, israther rigid and not flexible. It also can cause the display to crack iftensions occur in the printed circuit board due to some physical tensionor stress.

[0003] Previously a rigid frame has been used, which presses equally onall the edges of the display. Between the frame and the display is agasket, which is compressed when the frame is mounted to the printedcircuit board to hold the display. The pressure on the display from theframe/gasket is the equal everywhere. The tolerance in manufacture ofthe frame and the printed circuit board is handled by the degree ofcompressing the gasket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a display holder forholding a display in relation to a printed circuit board, enabling asecure contact between a display and a printed circuit board.

[0005] According to claimed invention this objective is obtained by adisplay holder for holding a display in relation to a printed circuitboard, where the display holder has means for snapping the display ontothe printed circuit board, and that the display holder furthermoreincludes means for transferring a tension from a snap-connection to aconnector part of the display.

[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a communication unitprovided with a display holder for holding a display in relation to aprinted circuit board, enabling a secure contact between a display and aprinted circuit board.

[0007] According to the claimed invention a communication unit providedwith a display holder for holding a display in relation to a printedcircuit board obtains this objective, where the display holder has meansfor snapping the display onto the printed circuit board, and that thedisplay holder furthermore includes means for transferring a tensionfrom a snap-connection to a connector part of the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention will be explained more fully below, by way ofexample, in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference tothe drawing, in which:

[0009] FIGS. 1-2 shows in a perspective view a preferred embodiment ofthe communication unit according to the invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 schematically shows the essential parts of a telephone forcommunication with a cellular network.

[0011]FIG. 4 shows display assembly parts, not assembled.

[0012]FIG. 5 shows the surface of an assembled frame facing the printedcircuit board.

[0013]FIG. 6 shows a section of a display holder mounted on a printedcircuit board.

[0014]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the displayholder.

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an elastomer connector.

[0016]FIG. 9 shows an assembled frame placed on a printed circuit board.

[0017]FIG. 10 shows a display holder holding a display and a printedcircuit board in relation to each other.

[0018]FIG. 11 shows a printed circuit board with a display holderholding a display and in relation to a printed circuit board fromanother view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] According to a first aspect the display holder according to theinvention will be described with reference to a hand portable phone,preferably a cellular/mobile phone. A preferred embodiment of this phoneis shown in FIG. 1, where a phone is shown in perspective. In FIG. 2 isthe phone shown for another perspective. As will be seen, the phone isprovided with a front cover 2 having a window frame 3 encircling theprotection window of the display assembly 1. The phone comprises a userinterface having an on/off button 4, a keyboard/keypad 7, a battery, adisplay/LCD 1, an ear-piece 21 and a microphone 22 (not shown).

[0020] The keypad 7 has a first group of keys 13 as alphanumeric keys,by means of which the user can enter a telephone number, write a textmessage (SMS), write a name (associated with the phone number), etc.Each of the twelve alphanumeric keys 13 is provided with a figure “0-9”or a sign “#” or “*”, respectively. In alpha mode each key is associatedwith a number of letters and special signs used in the text editing.

[0021] The keypad 2 additionally comprises two soft keys 8, two callhandling keys 12, and a navigation key 10. The functionality of the softkey depends on the state of the phone and the navigation in the menu byusing a navigation key. The present functionality of the soft keys 8 isshown in separate fields in the display 1 just above the keys 8. The twocall handling keys 12 are used for establishing a call or a conferencecall, terminating a call or rejecting an incoming call.

[0022] The navigation key 10 is an up/down key and is placed centrallyon the front surface of the phone between the display 3 and the group ofalphanumeric keys 8. Hereby the user will be able to control this keywith his thumb. This is the best site to place an input key requiringprecise motor movements. Many experienced phone users are used toone-hand handling. They place the phone in the hand between thefingertips and the palm of the hand. Hereby the thumb is free forinputting information.

[0023]FIG. 3 schematically shows the most important parts of a preferredembodiment of the phone, said parts being essential to the understandingof the invention. The microphone 22 records the user's speech, and theanalogue signals formed thereby are A/D converted in an A/D converter(not shown) before the speech is encoded in an audio part 20. Theencoded speech signal is transferred to the controller 18 (physicallayer processor), which e.g. supports the GSM terminal software. Thecontroller 18 also forms the interface to the peripheral units of theapparatus, including RAM and ROM memories 17 a and 17 b, a SIM card 16,the display 1 and the keypad 7 (from FIG. 1) as well as data, powersupply, etc. The controller 18 communicates with thetransmitter/receiver circuit 19. The audio part 20 speech-decodes thesignal, which is transferred from the controller 18 to the ear-piece 21via a D/A converter (not shown).

[0024] The preferred embodiment of the phone of the invention is adaptedfor use in connection with the GSM network, but, of course, theinvention may also be applied in connection with other phone networks.It could be cellular networks, various forms of cordless phone systemsor in dual band phones accessing sets of these systems/networks.

[0025] The controller 18 is connected to the user interface. Thus, it isthe controller 18, which monitors the activity in the phone and controlsthe display 1 in response thereto.

[0026] Therefore, it is the controller 18, which detects the occurrenceof a state change event and changes the state of the phone and thus thedisplay text. The user may cause a state change event, when he/sheactivates the keypad 7 including the navigation key or keys 10, andthese type of events are called entry events or user events. However,the network communicating with the phone may also cause a state changeevent. These type of events and other events beyond the user's controlare called non-user events. Non user events comprise status changeduring call set-up, change in battery voltage, change in antennaconditions, message on reception of SMS, etc.

[0027] An embodiment of the invention will be described with referenceto FIGS. 3 to 11 showing the various features of a display holder. Inthe shown embodiment the display holder will be holding a liquid crystaldisplay in relation to a printed circuit board.

[0028] In FIG. 4 a display holder 30 is shown including a beam 31 havinga U-shaped plane 32. The beam 31 has an extracted section 33 vertical tothe U-shaped plane 32 to be able to transfer a tension from asnap-connection 34 to a connector part 35 of the display 36 and theprinted circuit board 60 (see FIG. 9) in the direction to transfer thetension without bending. If the display holder 30 had the same designand the tension had been parallel to the U-shaped plane 32 the displayholder 30 should bend due to tension, and not be able to transfer atension to the connector part 35.

[0029] The beam 31 includes three supporting points 37, 38 and 39, andtwo snapping flanges 40 and 41. The flanges 40 and 41 are snapped overthe display 36 and the printed circuit board 60 to establish aconnection, while the supporting points 37, 38 and 39 are supported atthe display 36 and a frame 42 whereon the display 36 is mounted. Theframe 42 houses a light guide. By having some distance between the beam31 and the display 36 (see FIG. 6), except for the supporting points 37,38 and 39, the display 36 will be more flexible and will better adjustto external forces without cracking or jeopardising the connectionbetween the display 36 and the printed circuit board 60. The distancealso enables the display 36 to move independently from the frame 42.

[0030] As mentioned earlier the beam 31 has a U-shaped plane 32 with anextracted section 33 from said plane 32. The beam 31 has a supportingpoint 37 and 39 to the light guide 42 and a snap flange 40 and 41 oneach of the outer parts 43 and 44 of the beam 31, and a supporting point39 to the connector part 35 on the middle part of the beam 31. Thesupporting point 39 to the connector part 35 projects from the beam 31.The beam 31 is in this embodiment made of metal, but could obviously bemade of any other material having the same characteristic using the samedesign. These materials could e.g. be wood or plastic.

[0031] In FIG. 7 are shown the outer parts 43 and 44 of the beam 31 thatinclude attaching arrangements 45 and 46, which are aimed to fasten thedisplay holder 30 to the frame 42 whereon the display 36 is mounted.These attaching arrangements 45 and 46 are in FIG. 7 shown as hooks.

[0032] The connection between the display 36 and the printed circuitboard 60 is in a connector part 35, where each of them connects to ajoint elastomer connector 47, (see FIG. 9). The elastomer connector 47(see FIG. 8) comprise a number of laminated elastomer parts 48, a numberof laminated metal-foil parts 49 and contacts pads 50, where laminatedparts 48 and 49 has the same area facing each other. The elastomerconnector 47 is square having a laminated metal-foil part 49 betweenevery laminated elastomer part 48. Both the metal-foil parts 49 and thelaminated elastomer parts 48 has as mentioned above the same area sothat one laminated metal-foil part 49 does not get in contact with thenext laminated elastomer part, but having a laminated elastomer part 48in between. On the surfaces of the elastomer connector 47 facing theconnector parts 35 of the display 36 and the printed circuit board 60,are mounted contact pads 50 to connect to the display 36 and the printedcircuit board 60. The contact pads 50 on each side of the elastomerconnector 47 are connected to each other with the laminated metal-foilparts 49.

[0033] The elastomer connector 47 will be compressed when the displayholder 31 is put into its place holding the display 36 in relation tothe printed circuit board 60. The metal-foils 49 will bend, but still becontacted to each of the connector parts 35 on the display 36 and theprinted circuit board 60. A reliable and flexible contact has beencreated.

[0034] This short example (see FIGS. 4, 9, 10 and 11) will describe howthe display holder 31 is used to transfer a tension to the connectorpart 35 of a display 36 and a printed circuit board 60. The first stepis to mount a display 36 onto a frame 42, e.g. light guide, whereafterthe display holder 31 is fastened to the frame 42 with the hooks 45 and46 of the beam's 32 outer part. The assembled frame 51 (see FIG. 5, 9 or10) with a display holder 30 will be placed on a printed circuit board60 (see FIG. 9), whereafter the assembled frame 51 will be pressedagainst the printed circuit board 60, and the elastomer connector 47will be compressed. The snapping flanges 40 and 41 of the display holder30 will be snapped over the printed circuit board 60 to finalise themounting (see FIG. 10 and 11). The display holder 30 has created atension in the connector part 35.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the above described examples orto the drawings showing examples of an embodiment, but can be variedwithin the scope of the appended claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A display holder for holding a display inrelation to a printed circuit board, where the display holder has meansfor snapping the display onto the printed circuit board, and that saiddisplay holder having means for transferring a tension from asnap-connection to a connector part of the display characterised in thatthe means for transferring a tension includes a beam having an extractedsection in its vertical direction to transfer the tension from thesnap-connection to a connector part of the display and the printedcircuit board, and that the beam also includes supporting points andsnapping flanges, where the flanges are snapped over the display and theprinted circuit board to establish the connection, and compresses anelastomer in the connector part, when snapping the flanges over thedisplay and the printed circuit board.
 2. A display holder for holding adisplay on a printed circuit board according to claim 2 characterised inthat two of the beam's supporting points are located on a frame whereonthe display is mounted, having a third supporting point projecting fromthe beam with the support located on the connector part, where thetension is transferred from the display holder to hold the display andthe printed circuit board in relation to each other.
 3. A display holderfor holding a display on a printed circuit board according to claim 3characterised in that said beam has a U-shaped plane with an extractedvertical to said plane, having a supporting point to the light guide anda snap flange on each of the outer parts of the beam, and having asupporting point to the connector part on the middle part of the beam,and that the supporting point to the connector part projects from thebeam, and that the beam is made of metal.
 4. A display holdercharacterised in that said display holder includes a beam having aU-shaped plane with an extracted section vertical to said plane, havinga supporting point to a frame and a snap flange on each of the outerparts of the beam, and having a supporting point to the display on themiddle part of the beam, and that the supporting point to the displayprojects from the beam, and that the beam is made of metal.
 5. Acommunication unit provided with a display holder for holding a displayin relation to a printed circuit board, where the display holder hasmeans for snapping the display onto the printed circuit board, and thatsaid display holder having means for transferring a tension from asnap-connection to a connector part of the display characterised in thatthe means for transferring a tension includes a beam having an extractedsection in its vertical direction to transfer the tension from thesnap-connection to a connector part of the display and the printedcircuit board, and that the beam also includes supporting points andsnapping flanges, where the flanges are snapped over the display and theprinted circuit board to establish the connection, and compresses anelastomer in the connector part, when snapping the flanges over thedisplay and the printed circuit board.
 6. A communication unit providedwith a display holder for holding a display on a printed circuit boardaccording to claim 7 characterised in that two of the beam's supportingpoints are located on a frame whereon the display is mounted, having athird supporting point projecting from the beam with the support locatedon the connector part, where the tension is transferred from the displayholder to hold the display and the printed circuit board in relation toeach other.
 7. A communication unit provided with a display holder forholding a display on a printed circuit board according to claim 8characterised in that said beam has a U-shaped plane with an extractedsection vertical to said plane, having a supporting point to the lightguide and a snap flange on each of the outer parts of the beam, andhaving a supporting point to the connector part on the middle part ofthe beam, and that the supporting point to the display projects from thebeam, and that the beam is made of metal.
 8. A method for establishing apressure on a connector part between a display and a printed circuitboard characterised in that the pressure is established with a beamincluding an extracted section in the pressure direction, supportingpoints and snapping flanges, where the flanges are snapped over thedisplay and the printed circuit board to establish the connection, andcompressing an elastomer in the connector part, when snapping theflanges over the display and the printed circuit board.